R--SPECIAL NOTICE INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE- GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (IAW FAR 13.106-1) with Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive Allendale, MI 49401-9403, as the only responsible source that can provide Molecular analysis of Eurasian watermilfoil plant tissues for Ecosystems Evaluation and Engineering Division (CEERD). The basic requirements are below: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL), Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch (EE-A) has a need for molecular analysis of Eurasian watermilfoil plant tissues for its ongoing research and development. In order to adequately develop management strategies for aquatic weeds, it is necessary to determine the geographic origin of the introduced plants. This is accomplished primarily through molecular techniques that match plants in the introduced range (U.S.) with various collections in areas likely to be the geographic origin of the species. The contractor will provide all labor and expertise needed to execute comprehensive preventive maintenance and NIST calibration of the (5) walk-in controlled environmental chambers located in Vicksburg, MS. Grand Valley State University is the only source for this molecular analysis of EWM plants based on DNA markers and datasets developed and maintained by GVSU. Grand Valley State University has the necessary qualifications and experience to conduct these tasks and, because of previously-developed DNA markers and a dataset containing genetic information from EWM plants collected around the world, is the only source capable of providing this service Grand Valley State University has developed DNA markers for EWM analysis and owns the only extensive library of EWM genetic material in the world. For this reason, GVSU is the only vendor qualified to analyze and compare plant tissue samples collected from China and South Korea. Without the extensive collection of genetic material housed at GVSU for comparison, the results of molecular analyses would be useless. GVSU has published the results of their hydrilla work in peer-reviewed, easily accessibly journals. There is a need to perform molecular analysis techniques on tissues of EWM to determine geographic origin of U.S. plants and phylogenetic relationships among world-wide accessions. This need includes a data output and interpretation of the output in the form of a report. Specifications for the analysis of plant material consist of: -Analysis (genotyping, sequencing) of 100 EWM plant tissue samples, collected by CEERD scientists in China and South Korea - Data generated must be interpretable within the context of existing datasets. This acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures. The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541711 with a Small Business Size Standard of 500 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document exists for this requirement. However, parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data, including price, sufficient to determine capability in providing the same or similar product. All capability statements received by the closing date of this publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Capability statements shall be submitted only by e-mail as a Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, or Adobe PDF attachment to contact@example.gov. Statements are due by 0800 (8:00am) Central Standard Time 28 July 2014. No phone calls will be accepted. Point of Contact Derek Howard, Contract Specialist, Phone +1 (555) 000-0000, Email contact@example.gov